Casing for typewriting machines



Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR4 TO -UNDERWOOD PAT-ENT oFFlcE.

TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. A

CASING FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES. I

Application med June 19, 1922, serial No. 569,423. e

To all whom t may concern Be it known that 1, ALFRED GyF. KURowslit, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casings for Typewriting Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a sound- "leadeni'ng casing for a typewriting machine;` and more particularly to a casing of this character having a cover which may be opened to permit of access to the machine for erasures and other purposes` or to permit of placement and removal of the machine.

An object of the invention is the provision ot a simple, reliable and inexpensive automatic device for openingV the casingcover ywhen the latter is unlocked or released, and torso controlling the'opening operation as to control the rebound of the 'cover when the latter is fully open and to protect the parts against shock; a feature of the invention being its ready applicability, as a separately manufactured device, to any casing on which it may be desired, without involving special features of originalconstruction in the casing itself, or material alterations in, or additions to, a casingstructure already completed.

l Other objects are to reduce the excessive friction of moving parts against the casing and against each other, reduce the number of parts' and Secure the parts against loss. and also to reduce the size of the spring wire and to allow lighter' connections of the moving parts of the casing.

Other features and advantages will herein-l after appear.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a View, in side elevation, of. the

apparatus, with the casing closed.

Figure 2 is a view of the casing, takeniin Figure 5 is a view of the face of the upper yend of the buffer-spring. i

thereof for the carriage of the typewriting machine in the letter-feed and return movements thereof. The casing-body 10 is provided with'a sound-deadening lining 14, and the casing cover or casting 11 with a` sounddeadening lining 15.. When the casing-cover is closed, as shown in Figure 2. the lower edge of the lining 15 of the cover 11 rests on a flange 16, forming the upper edge ot the body-casting 10; and the lower edge 17 of the cover-casting 11 overlaps the flange 16. The cover of the casing is providedwith a window-pane 18, of glass or other transparentmaterial, to permit the operator to observe the printing effected within the casing. The pane 18 is held in an'opening in the cover-casting in any suitable manner.

The keyboard-extension of the machine (not shown) projects through a suitable opening in the front wall of the casing-body 10, so as to be operable from the outside of the casing. The usual levers, such as the carriage-release-lever, line-space-lever and carriage-return-arm, not shown, must also project from the inside to the outside of the cover 11, so as Vto be accessible to the operator. Since these levers must move with the carriage, the front wall of the casing is slotted horizontally and longitudinally thereof. In Figure 1, this slot is shown at 19, as formed by the lower forward edge 20 of the cover and by the upper edge 21 of the front wall 22 ofthe casing-body. The slot 19 is, however, practically closed by two resilient flexible cushions 23v and 24:; the cushion 23 being attached to the edge 20 ot' the cover, and the cushion 24 being attached to the edge 21 of the front wall of the casingbody. These cushions. in effect` close the .Slot 1.9, being in .Contact with each other eX- cept where the levers and arms on the typewriting machine carriage protrude between the same. The yieldable, flexible character of the cushions permits movement of the levers therealong as the carriage is moved in one or the other direction. The parts thus far described are not new with the present invention, which relates to the cover-opening mechanism, and is, as follows: Y

Set against the lining l5 on the left-hand wall of the cover is a plate 25. This plate is supported on the left-hand wall of the cover-casting ll, by means of spacing blocks 26, which lie in holes in the lining-member. Screws 27, passing through the plate 25 and through the spacing` blocks 26. thread into the cover-casting, to hold the plate 25 in place. The plate 25 is also provided with tongues 23 see Figure l), which pass through the lining-member 15,. to rest against the cover-casting atthe top .and rear thereof, and with a tongue 25, which passes through the lining, to rest against the front Vedge of the cover-casting. The plate 25 serves as a support for the attachments of the coveropening spring and buffer-spring.

The cover-opening spring 31-32 is einployed automatically to open the cover 11 and is shown as consisting of four coils 30 acting by torsion and legs 3l and 32 which are shown as of considerable length to reduce the force at the connections and to allow lighter connections at their ends. The legs 31 of the spring has its end set into a coupling 33, pivotally anchored at 34, in a fork in a block 35; the block 35 beingset against the plate 2 5, and being secured to the latter by four screws 36 (see VFigure 6). The lower leg 32 of the `spring has its distal end setinto a coupling 3T, pivoted at 4l to a bracket 39,' the bracket 39 passing-.through an opening in the lining 14 of thecasing-.bodyg and being secured to the casting 10 of the casingbody by rivets 40. lrlhe .coupling` 37terminatos ina yoke 33 which embraces the upper end of the bracket 39 (see Figure 2), to which the yoke 38 is connected by a pivot-pin 4l, which passes through one arm of the yoke, and through the bracket, and threads into the other arm of the yoke. This pin 4l is shouldered to prevent binding of thecoupling 37%33 on the bracket 39, The coilportion 30 of the spring 3144.32 is free to float, and the centerof the coil serves as a pivot for the legs 31and 32to turn thereon. Then the coveris unlocked, the spring therefore acts to throw open the cover l1 to bring the latter .tothe position shown in Figure 3.

lWhen the cover is opened, as above described, the momentum thereof willtend to carry it beyond the position to which the spring 31-32 will bringit, in opposition to the force of the spring, and the cover will tend to revolve around the hinges 12 as a pivot and it may strain the connections thereof with the spring 3l-32, and it may also strain the hinges. It may even collide with the rear of the body-part 10 of the casing, especially if the spring 31-32 be initially strained before being connected to the casing to insure prompt action thereof.

ln order to prevent shocks in the coveropening operation, and to control the rebound ofthe cover when the latter is fully open, a buffer-spring is provided. This buffer-spring (see Figure 4) is a leaf-spring, having two legs or leaves 42 and 43, folded one over the other. The leg 42 lies flat against the plate 25, and is secured to lthe latter by rivets 44 (see Figure 5). From the fold 45 in the buffer-spring, the other leg 43 thereof is bent 'first inwardly, as at 46, toward the leg 42, thence inclined outwardly from the leg 42 to the end thereof. Near the end of the leg 43 of the butlerspring is an openin@1 4'? therethrough, and through the opening 47 loosely passes a screw 43, which passes through a nut 49, and

through the leg 42 of the spring, andthreads it into the plate 25. The nut 49 may be soldered or riveted to the leg 42 of the bufferspring 4-2-43, and it serves as a more eX- tended threaded bearing for the screw 48. The head of the screw 48 serves as a stop to determine the outward throw of the leg 43 of the buffer-spring. This throw and the tension of the leg 43 of the spring may, however, be adjusted by means of said screw 48, which may be locked in position by means of a pin 5l, which passes crosswise through thcs crew 43, and is adapted to be set into cross-slots 52 in the spring. When the pin 5l is released from the cross-slots 52, by inward pressure on the spring, the screw 48 may be turned to adj ust the position of the head 50 thereof, thus bringing the pin 5l into other registration with the cross-slots 52. The spring beingreleasetl, the pin 5l is again set in the cross-slots, and the screw 48 held against unintentional rotation.

As shown in the. drawings, the leg 3l of the opening spring has a path of movement between rthe two leaves 42 and 43 of the butter-spring. llfb-en the cover 1l of the ,seing is opened, the buffer-spring 42`43, which is secured to the cover ll of the cas-l ing, rotates with said. cover il around the hinge l2 of the casing as a pivot, but the leg 3l of the opening spring 31-32 swings around the center of the spring-coil 30. i'

The bulferfsl'iring 42-43 has a greater velocity than the part of the opening` spring 31-32 which is in contact therewith, or has a relative motion in the oppositedirection thereto, although both springs are n'ioving in the same direction with relation to stationary objects. As a result, the part of the leg 3l of the spring 3l32 which is in contact with the buffer-spring ory leaflGo spring 42e-43 is moved inthe direction of an indentationor pocket 53 ofthe buier.-

spring 42-43 when the cover llis opened. Y

The leg 3l ofthe opening spring is thereby jammed between the leaves ,42' and 43 Vof the buffer-spring.

vIn other words, thebuffer=spring4243 overtakes the leg 31 of the opening spring.

bufferfspring until the cover is finally brought to rest by the frictional engagement of one spring with the other. sition of the cover isdetermined by the indentation or bend 53, see particularly Figure 4,.,in'the leaf 43 of. thebutter-spring.v When the spring 3l is in this indentation or pocket the two springs, 'by reason of such engagement, will c ause the cover tobe held open against accidental closing. Reasonably `light pressure on the cover to close the same will, however, free the leg 3l ofthe opening spring'.from the pocket in the buffer-spring, yto permit the cover to be.

closed.

lt will be understoody that theprime pur-y pose of the adjusting screw 48, indetermining. the throw of the' free leaf 43fof-the buffer-spring, is to adjust the pressure ofthe 'buier-spring onthe leg 31 of the opening rEhe leaf 43 of the buffer-sprang en the casing.

The buiierlspring 42-`43 and connections` of the opening spring 3l-32 Vto theV cover are protectec by means ot a triangular casing 54, mounted on the plate 25. This 'spring casing comprises a side wall, of the triangnlar shape of the spring casing itself, :2nd upper and lower walls, which are r anges formed on the side wall. The upper i id lower walls of the springcasing rest jainst the plate 25. The spring Casing is further supported on the plate 25 by means of spacing blocks or pieces` 55, soldered-or riveted to the plate 25. andinto whichI are threaded screws 56, which hold the spring casing at its side wall to the plate 25. screw 57 holds the spring casing to the block S5 at the front thereof. Thespring casing is open at its rear, to allow movement of the leg 3l of the opening spring. It is also provided with a hole 58, through whichy a The open popin disengages the hook 63 from the deepening of they cover' without undue' shockV screw-driver may be inserted for adjustment of the screw 48 of the buffer-spring, which lies opposite thereto.

For Alockingthe cover 11 against the action.. of the spring-device 3132 just referred to, there is pivoted at 62, to one of the side walls of the cover, a hook 63 which extends intoA the bodyvpart of the casing.

lThen the cover ll is shut and therhool( 63 swung forward, by the spring 73 hereinafter described it engages a detent 64, carried by the casing-body lO. Mounted to be slid rearward and forward in the front wall of the casing-body is a pin 65, carrying on ilsvonter end a finger-piece 66, and having en its inne; end a head 67, adapted to act onjthe lend of the Vhook 63. Vhen the key or finger-piece 66 is pressed rearward, the

tent64 andreleases the cover l1 to the action yof the opening deviceV 314-32, hereto-.

fore described. A Vsleeve 68, mounted in the casing Vfront wall, serves as a hardened bearing for'the pin 65. 'This is employed because the material of the casing itself may not be 'hard enough to prevent undue wear by the pin 65; and such wear might cause thepin to become loose and inaccurate in its action.

In order that the hook 63 may not be inj ured by the typewriting machine, in the operation of removing the latter from the casing, and may not be struck by the operator, or otherwise be bent or injured, it is set -in a housing This housing is in two sections,none section being on the cover 1l, and the other section 71, which forms a continuation of the "section 70, being on the casing-body 10. As shown in Figure 1, the housing section 70 is of U-shaped sheetzrnetal, closed at the top, and the housing section 71 is likewise inthe form of a U shaped pieceof sheet-metal, open at the top -and closed Vat the bottom by the offset side wall 13k ofthe body-,portion of the casing, `Withinfthe housing section 70 on the cover also a'lea'f-spring 73, which bears against the rear of the hook 63 and against the rear Wall of the housing, andthus tends to throw the hook 63 forward into cover-locking position; The normal position of the hook 63 is therefore a forward position; and, in order that the hook 63 may not interfere with the closingV of the cover l1, the upper for kward edge of the housing section 7l on the casing-body l0 1s slightly bent out, as atA v.74, to forma cam, which, by engagement Vbe tapered, vas at 75, to assist in this cam- -nimg operation.

The head 67 on the'hookengaging end of the pin 65 not only serves as a wide flat surface for operating the hook,

ut also serves as a shoulder t'o prevent the fin G5 from being' ejected forward out of he casing-Wall by the spring 73 acting on he hook G3. and from falling out when the 'rising is tilted. The front and rear Walls of the housing 'T0-7l may serve asf stops to limit the throwv of the hook.

lt will he noted that the cover opening and controllingy device involves no special tastings or structural features in the casing iliself. lt may he separately manufactured :and applied to the casing Whenever desired. .in the application of the device to a casing, practically the only work to be done on the latter is the riveting thereto of the bracket 539, andthe provision of screw-holes for the attachment of the plate 25. Even the bracket 39r` may be screwed, instead of riveted', tothe casing; It follows that, when any of the parts are Worn or injured, they maybe readily replaced, with little or no interruption in the use of the casing.

Variations may beA resorted to Within the scope" of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having` thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A sound`-deadening casing for' a type'- Writing` machine, comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, and cover' openine and controlling' means, comprising a coil-spring, one leg of which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotal'ly connected to the cover, and the other legof which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotally connected to the casing-body, the coil being free to float as the legs spread in the cover-opening operation, and a leaf-spring laid crossivise of the leg of the coil-spring" on the cover, to bear upon the coil-spring- With progressively increasing' pressure, as the cover opens, Whereby to serve as a buffer.

A sound'deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising' a body-part and cover hinged. thereto, and cover openina and controlling` means, con'iprising a coil-spring'. one lee.` of which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotally connected to the cover, and the other lea' of which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotally1 connected to the iody, the coil being free to .float as spread in the cover-opening operation1 and another spring, attached to the cover crossirise of one les; of the coil.-sp1;ing, and inclinedv to the plane of movement of such les; of the coil-spring. to exert an increasiiie' pressure on the coil-spring. as the cover opens, a nd' thereby to serve as a buffer'.

S. A sound-deadcniner casino,r for a typewriting' machine, comprising` a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, and cover open ing` and controlling means, comprisingr a coilsprineg, one leer of which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotally connected to the cover, and the other leer of which, at a fixed point thereof, is pivotally connected to the casingbod'y', the coil being free to float as the legs spread` inA the cover-opening operation, an.` other spring, attached togthel cover crossivise of one leg" of" theA coi'lespring, and inclined to the plane of. movement of such leg of the coil-spring to exert an increasing, pressure onI the coil-spring, as the cover opens, and thereby tol serve as a` buffer, andA means for varying the angular set of the buffer-spring, to regulate the action thereof.

sonnd-deadening casingr for a typervriting machine,` comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, andcover openine; and cont-.rolling means, comprising a coil"s'pringzone legof'ivhich, at af fixed point thereof', i pivotalfly connected to the cover, and tlieother leg' of which, atv a' 'Xed point thereof-,- is pivot-ally connected to the casing'- bod-Ty,A andv al friction device attached to the coverl crossiviseof one leg, ofthe coil-spring,

and incl'ined toy the plane of movement of such legof the esili-spring, to exert an increasin'gg pressure on the coil-spring', as the cover opens-,and thereby to serve asl a. buffer.

AiV sound-deadening casing for a type-- Writing' macl'iine, comprising a body-part andi a cover hinged thereto. a coil-spring secured at' one end to the body-part, and at its other end to the cover, means on the coverlaid crossvvise of the lee' of the coilspring; which connects to the cover, and meansA for causing such crossWise-extending means to bear with increasing pressure on the coil-spring, as the cover is opened, whereby to act as a buffer.

6. A soundldeadening casing' for a. type- Writing` machine, comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, a coil-springsecured' at one end to the body-part, and at its other end to the cover, means on the cover laid crossWise of the leg of the coilspring'Y which connects to the cover, means for causingv such crosswiseextending means to bear with increasing pressure on the coil spring, as the cover is opened, whereby to act as a buffer,v and means for regulating' the pressure on the coil-spring` of saidA cross- Wise-extendinrgmeans.

7. sound-deadening casing for a type- Writi'ng' machine, comprising a l'mdy-part and a cover hinged thereto, a coil-spring attached at one end to the body-portion, and at its? other end to the cover, and a V-shaped device laid crossivise of, and embracing, the le,fTv of the coil-spring which connects to the cover. to exert an increasingr pressure on such leg' of' the coil-sprinl', and thereby to act as a hufifer in the cover-opening;r operai tion.

S; A sound-deadening casing; for a typeivriting machine, comprising' a body-part and a cover hinged' thereto, a coil-springI having a floating coil, legs extended from the coil in i4-shaped formation, the leg-s being pivotally connected, one at a fixed point and the other at a lixed point thereof, to the cover ot the easing, and means bearing rlaterally against the leg or thecoil-spring which connects tothe clover, to act as a bull'cr. V

9. A sound-deadeningcasing for a typewriting machine, comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, a coil-spring having a tioating coil, legs extended from the coil in V-snaped formation, the legs being pivotally connected, one ata iixedpoint thereoiI to the body-portion of the casing, and the other at a fixed point thereof to the cover ot the casing, means bearing laterally against the leg of the coil-spring which connects to the cover, to act as a buffer, and a stop on such buffer-device tok determine the open position of the cover.

10. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, a coil-spring having a floating coil, legs extended from the coil in V-shaped formation, the legs being pivotally connected, one ata lixed point thereof to the body-portion of the casing, and the other at a ixed point thereof to the cover of the casing, and a leaf-spring laid crosswise of, and bearing laterally upon, the leg of the coil-spring which connects to the cover, to actas a buifer.

11. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a body-part and a cover hinged thereto, a coil-spring having a floating coil, legs extended from the coil in V-shaped formation, the legs being pivotally connected, one at a fixed point thereof tothe body-portion of the casing, and the other at a iixed point thereof to the cover of the casing, and a leaf-spring laid crosswise of, and bearing laterally upon, the leg of the coil-spring which connects tothe cover, to act as a butler, said leaf-spring having a stop thereon to determine the open position of the cover.

12. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a body-portion and a cover hinged thereto, a spring connected at one end to the cover, and projecting outward from the cover `at a slight angle, to form with the side wall of the cover a narrow wedge-shaped passage, and a coil-spring secured at one end to the bodyportion of the casing, and'at its other end extending transversely through said wedgeshaped passage, and connected to the cover beyond the same; whereby said coil-spring may act as an opening device Jfor the cover, and the first-mentioned spring as a brake or bulfer.

13. A sound-deadening casing for a typewriting machine, comprising a body-portion and a cover hinged thereto, a spring connected at one end to the cover, and projecting outward from the cover at a slight angle, to form with the side wall of thecover a narrow wedge-'shaped passage, a coil-spring secured at one end to the body-portion of the casing, and at its other end extending transversely through said' wedge-shaped passage, and connected tothe cover beyond the same; whereby said coil-spring may `act as an opening device for the cover, and the lirst-mentioned spring as a brake or buffer; and means for holding the free end of the first-mentioned spring, to cause the latter to resist the movement of the coil-spring. i

14. A sound-deadening casing 'for `a typewriting machine, comprising a body-portion and a cover hinged thereto, a spring connected at one end to the cover, and projecting outward from the cover at a slight angle, to form with the side wall of the cover a narrow wedge-shaped passage, a coil-spring secured at one end to the bodyportion of the casing, and at its other end extending transversely through said wedgeshaped passage, and connected to the cover beyond the same; whereby said coil-.spring may act `as an opening device for the cover, and the first-mentioned spring as a brake or buffer; means for holding the free end of the first-mentioned spring, to cause the latter to resist the movement of the coilspring; and means for adjusting the position at which the free end of the tiret-mentioned spring is held, to regulate the braking effect thereof.

15. A cover opening `and controlling device or a sound-deadeningv casingfor typewriting machines, comprising a plate attachable to the side wall of the casing-cover, a coil-spring connected at one end to the platev and having means whereby its other end may be connected to the casing-body, and means on the plate bearing against the leg of the Spring attached to the plate, and adapted to oder an increasing resistance to the movement of said leg in cover-opening direction.

16. A cover opening and controllingy device for asound-deadening casing for typewriting machines, comprising a plate attachable to the side wall of the casing-cover, a coil-spring connected at one end to the plate andl having meansV whereby its other end may be connected to the casing-body, a

leaf-spring attached at one end to the plate, A

thence extended along the plate crosswise underthe leg of the coil-spring and beyond the latter, thence folded back over and againstsaid leg of the coil-spring, andk means for connecting the distal end of the leaf-spring to the plate, to cause the leafspring to oiier an increasing resistance to the movement of said` leg of the coil-spring in cover-opening direction.

, 17. A .sound-deadening casing :tor a typewriting machine, comprsing body-part and a cover hinged thereto, and cover opening and controlling means, comprising a coil-spring, one leg of which, `a1: a fixed point thereof, is pvotally connected to the cover, and the other leg of which, at a fixed point thereof, s pvotally connected to the casing-body, the coil being free to float as the legs spread in the cover-opening. operation, and a leaf-spring laid orosswse of the leg of the Coil-spring on the cover, to bear upon the coil-spring with progressively noreasng pressure, as the cover opens, Whereby to serve as a buffer, combined with means for locking the cover of said easing to the body-part thereof.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI. 

